Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
Add as preferred source on GooglePope Leo plans to visit Angola in 2026 as part of his Africa tour, marking his first overseas trip as pontiff. The Vatican envoy confirmed the invitation.
LUANDA/VATICAN CITY, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Pope Leo plans to visit Angola as part of a multi-nation trip across Africa, the Vatican's ambassador to the country announced on Tuesday, in what could be the pontiff's first overseas trip in 2026.
Archbishop Kryspin Dubiel, the Vatican's envoy, told journalists at a briefing in Luanda that Leo had accepted an invitation from President Joao Lourenco to visit, but the date and other details had yet to be decided.
"The Holy Father has accepted the invitation … (but) we are currently in the process of preparing the plan and programme," said Dubiel.
The Vatican press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Leo, elected in May to succeed the late Pope Francis as head of the Catholic Church, has made only one overseas trip so far, visiting Turkey and Lebanon in November and December.
The pope said in a December press conference that he wished to visit Africa but did not mention Angola. Leo, a member of the Augustinian religious order, said he wanted to visit Algeria, birthplace of St. Augustine of Hippo.
The last papal trip to Africa was in 2023, when Francis visited Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Pope Benedict XVI was the last pontiff to visit Angola, in 2009.
Leo, the first U.S. pope, previously travelled to Africa many times as a cardinal and the head of his religious order.
Another trip Leo is expected to make in 2026 is to Spain and to the Canary Islands, which has become a major point of entry for migrants trying to get to Europe. A Spanish cardinal told reporters at the Vatican last week that the trip is in the planning phase.
(Reporting by Miguel Gomes in Luanda and Joshua McElwee in Vatican CityEditing by Frances Kerry)
A Vatican envoy is a representative of the Vatican, often an ambassador, who is sent to another country to manage diplomatic relations and promote the interests of the Catholic Church.
A papal visit refers to the journey made by the Pope to different countries, where he engages with local communities, promotes peace, and addresses various social and spiritual issues.
Papal visits to Africa are significant as they highlight the Catholic Church's commitment to the continent, addressing issues such as poverty, social justice, and promoting peace among diverse communities.
The Pope serves as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, guiding its followers, making doctrinal decisions, and representing the Church in international matters.
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